The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has for a second time been ordered to hand over documents to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for investigations into the alleged laundering of more than $100,000,000.
The order was made by acting Chief Justice Roxane George SC on Monday after she dismissed an application by the Revenue Authority for variation of a Production Order sought by SOCU to have the Authority hand over the documents.
According to a Guyana Police Force press release, SOCU had first been granted the production order by the Chief Justice against the Commissioner-General of the GRA on August 12 and it stipulated compliance within 14 days.
The Revenue Authority, however, subsequently applied for the order to be varied but its application was dismissed on Monday.
According to the release, pursuant to the Order, SOCU has been asking the GRA for the documents, which is says are part of its investigations into money laundering involving some $103,000,000.
The police said that the Revenue Authority had, however, refused to produce the documents, arguing that it was obligated to safeguard the returns declaration and other taxpayer information in accordance with Section 23 of the Revenue Act.
The release said that the court, however, emphasised that Sections 111 and 112 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-ing the Financing of Terrorism Act is clear, as it supersedes the Revenue Act and protects the Authority from liability where documents/information are produced to SOCU.
The police further said in their release that the GRA was ordered to pay court costs in the sum of $75,000.
The production order was granted pursuant to Section 24 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
